Almost a Sea Eagle
The Immortal who tried to entice teen star to Manly
HE will be lost to rugby union but teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii could easily have become a Manly Sea Eagle after first being identified as a 13-year-old by a rugby league Immortal.
Suaalii was initially spotted by Manly legend Bob Fulton and his talent scout son Scott playing an under-14s game.
Scott was so impressed he approached Suaalii’s father, Chris, at full-time and handed over some Manly Sea Eagles merchandise.
Suaalii was invited into the Manly junior system but his family had concerns about how he would travel from his school, King’s at North Parramatta, to Manly training at Narrabeen.
Eventually, Chris Suaalii felt Manly wasn’t the right fit – but not through a lack of trying from the Fulton family.
Bob and Scott were watching a representative Combined Independent School rugby league schoolboy carnival when Suaalii’s power and speed were evident.
“We couldn’t sign him until he was 15 years old anyway but we had first go at him,” Bob said. “He was a big, strong athletic kid with a lot of skill. He was raw but that will be refined as he gets older. He was definitely one out of the box.
“But, in the end, travel was a big component. It was too hard for him to get from King’s to Manly and that was a major concern for the family. It was a little tricky but he could have been a Manly player.”
Suaalii has since become rugby union’s $3m man.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Rugby Australia will pay $500,000 a year for Suaalii, the NSW Waratahs will inject $250,000 and a thirdparty benefactor will outlay $250,000 for his $1 million-aseason figure. Souths’ threeyear extension offer was worth around $560,000 a season.
RA’s offer included playing union for the remainder of this year, provided Suaalii is released from his Souths contract, and then 2021, 2022 and 2023. There were suggestions on Thursday that Suaalii could represent the Waratahs and even the Wallabies this year.
Sources close to Suaalii are concerned RA has not proved sufficient time – outside of training and preparing for games – for him to finish the final two years of school. South Sydney’s offer included an education clause.
The Rabbitohs told Suaalii he was not required to play SG Ball this year or 2021 to focus on his studies. Suaalii avoids reading social and mainstream media – and often turns his phone off – so is unaware of the headlines his decision has caused.
It is understood Souths would allow Suaalii to leave early and save the club his $60,000 rookie contract.
Suaalii cannot play NRL until he turns 18 on August 1, 2021.
There was speculation on Thursday that Souths coowner Russell Crowe may have contacted Suaalii’s family.
The NRL has no plans to change a rule stating a player must wait until he is 17 to be registered.
Suaalii had agreed to a three-year extension at Souths but his contract could not be registered until his August 1 – his 17th birthday – allowing rugby time to poach him.